Jurisdiction

[Stephen L. Wasby]

There was no federal jurisdiction at the time for wounding or
assassinating a president; that was enacted only after, and as a result
of, Kennedy's death.  The "protection" of the statute extends to some
other officials (named in the statute, I believe). The state therefore
would have had jurisdiction to try for murder. The feds could,
presumably, have prosecution for violation of the individual's civil
rights, in the same way that the statute was used to pursue those who
killed the three civil rights workers in Philadelphia, Mississippi.
     (If I'm wrong on any of this, the law profs will correct me, quickly.)
                 Steve Wasby

SILVERBURG Dr. Sanford wrote:

>The concern shown over the AG's involvement in determining
>jurisdiction in the most recent DC area sniper incident led to a
>discussion in my Con Law class this morning over the question of
>who would have had jurisdiction when President Kennedy was killed,
>if Governor Connolly was killed and the president wounded.  What
>are some likely scenarios?
>
>Sanford Silverburg
>